CDC issues no-sail recommendation after norovirus cruise outbreak

March 16, 2010

CHARLESTON, SC — The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a no-sail recommendation for the Celebrity Mercury cruise ship in order for workers to investigate the cause of repeating outbreaks of norovirus, according to CNN.

According to the story, the cruise ship will not sail for a minimum of four days to allow members of the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) attempt to find the reason why the ship has experienced three outbreaks of the disease in the past month.

CDC spokesman Ricardo Beato said: "The CDC and the cruise line corporate staff have not yet determined why the controls that they were following have not been effective."

Passengers of the cruise ship continue to get sick, despite previous cleaning efforts as recommended by the VSP, with the percentage of passengers falling ill — up to 19 percent during the last sailing — on the rise, the story stated.

Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness that causes symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, the story added.